Local Leaders Critical of Hearings on Muslim Radicalization

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posted on: Mar 12, 2011

Local Muslims and non-Muslims alike were critical of Thursday’s Congressional hearings on American Muslim radicalization.

Local leaders agreed that there was a legitimate purpose to the hearings — which examined the extent of radicalization in the American Muslim community — but said it was too narrow in its focus and ignored positive initiatives that have helped engagement between Muslims and law enforcement agencies since Sept. 11, 2001.

“Radicalism is a big threat to security, but it’s one we all face and it’s not limited to one group,” said Imad Hamad, regional director for the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee. “To single out Muslims is not only unfair, but it is ignorant of the contributions Muslim Americans have made to keeping our country safe.”

Hamad said the committee would have been well served by looking at the “Bridges” partnership between local Muslims and area law enforcement agencies. The program arranges for dialogue between representatives of both groups and has been successful in gathering intelligence for authorities, he said. And while some in the Muslim community are skeptical of law enforcement intelligence gathering methods, Bridges has helped diffuse some of the tensions.

But Hamad expressed concern that the hearing’s singular focus on Muslims could lead to alienation or further skepticism.

“I think it does pose that risk, but I am hopeful that Congress will step back and look at this objectively to see that Muslims are a great partner in this and we all want safety and security for our country,” he said.

With Dearborn’s large Muslim population, the controversial hearing predictably turned the national media spotlight here for “local reactions.”

For Mayor Jack O’Reilly, it was a welcome opportunity to dispel what he said is misinformation about one of his largest constituencies. To that end, O’Reilly made appearances on CNN and MSNBC for interviews.

“None of the people involved in the progress we’ve had were invited to these hearings because there was a narrow view taken and, I believe, the outcome was determined before the fact-finding began,” O’Reilly said on MSNBC’s Hardball with Chris Matthews.

Dearborn Police Chief Ronald Haddad knows Muslim-law enforcement relations as well as anyone. The department has staff assigned exclusively to the federal Joint Terrorism Task Force and Haddad sits on the Department of Homeland Security’s Advisory Council.

“We’ve had really good cooperation from our Muslim residents that has helped us to keep the community safe,” said Haddad, a Lebanese Christian.

Haddad, who also did a CNN interview on Friday, said he too had some concerns that the hearings could fray partnerships.

“It’s not a good thing to single people out or groups and, yeah, there is a risk that this could alienate some of our partners,” he said.

The criticisms, however, are not to say there haven’t been instances of suspected terrorism with ties to Dearborn. But in almost all cases the motives were not explicitly tied to radical Islam and, furthermore, were mitigated by community tips. These cases, officials said, underscore the cooperation local Muslims have given in the fight against terrorism.

One example of a case that was peacefully resolved thanks to a tip happened in 2007 when police arrested a Arab man in Hemlock Park dressed in commando garb carrying an AK-47 assault rifle. Investigation later revealed the man identified with Hezbollah, the Lebanese paramilitary organization that is designated by the U.S. government as a terrorist group, but is generally regarded as more of a political than theological entity.

More recently, FBI agents last month arrested an Arab man from Dearborn for threatening to shoot up a classroom at Wayne State University, where he was a student. An Internet user from Redford Township turned the man in after reading rants about the plan on a website. But it is not clear what the suspect’s motives were.

Haddad said cases like these are what people should focus on when it comes to American Muslims and preventing terrorism.

“Our partners in the local Muslim community have given us excellent support and it’s really something the public should be aware of,” he said.

J. Patrick Pepper
Press & Guide

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